Improvement in signal-lignts for locomotives



A DICK.

`Improvomont in Signal-Lights for Locomotives.

Patented July 23,1872.Y

To all whom it may concern:

i ada, have invented a new and useful Improvelight having my improvements applied therethe running of railroad trains, particularly y it is a matter of much importance that the conductors of passin g trains shall know whether portant matters within the control of an enminated by the lamp, and an independent mov preaching train, this curtain being interposed or withdrawn `at the will of the engineer, in

\ manent signal first referred to as indicating the number of the train'.

method which I have invented for carrying the body of the lantern, which may be of any usual or desired construction. stance provided-with a reflector, B, in rear of NITED SrArns ANDREW DICK, oF HAMILTON, CANADA.

1- IMPROVEMENT IN SIGNAL-LIGHTS FoR'LocoMoTlvEs.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,797, dated July 23, 1872.

. Beit known that I, ANDREW DICK, of Hamilton, county of Wentworth, Dominion of Ganmentin Head-Lights for Locomotives, of which thefollowin g is a full, clear,` and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in whichl .s V l Figure lis a perspective view of a headto Fig. 2, transverse sectional view on lines y y, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detached view, showing the coiled spring which rolls up the screen. l l

Similar letters of reference4 denote corresponding parts in both figures.

It is well known to all who are familiar with when trains are being run by telegraph, that a train which they are passing, or which is It is also very essential and, with a view to place both of `these im-` gineer while riding on his engine, two features of construction in a lamp are found to be desirable-first, a number or its equivalent mounted in a fixed position, so that it shall be illuable semi-transparent screen, curtain, or shade, arranged so as to be readily seen. from an apsuch manner that it shall serve as a cautionary` signal, and yet shall not obscure the per-- Having thus set forth the nature and object of my invention, I will now describe one it into effect.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents It is in this inlthe lamp C, in order -that as much of the light as is possible maybe thrown through the circular face-plate D. E is a signal-supporting bar, mounted by preference in slotted lugs or ears E1 E2 projecting from opposite sides of shell or sash of face-plate D. One end of this bar is jointed, as at e, the short pivoted end hanging down by its own weight, and thus,

in connection with a pin, e, which passes through the bar just inside of the ear E2, serv- 1 ing to lock said bar firmly in position in the ears, and guard against its accidental displacement, while at the same time it (the bar)` can be easily removed by raising up end e until it is in line with the rest of the bar, then sliding it inward until that end can be removed from ear E2, and then moving the.bar in the opposite direction until its opposite end is disengaged frm ear El. In the drawing I have shown the number (807) affixed to the bar 5 but it is evident that the signals need not be confined to number, but that any other device may be employed at will, although in ordinary practice numberswill generally be found the most convenient. These numbers are secured Vthe ears, leaving play enough to permit the bar to be put in place; or both bar and sleeve may be perforated to receive pins or other equivalent fastening devices employed; and it is apparent that a spring-latch may be substitutedfor the jointed end to retain the bar in place. The bar may be supported independently of the lantern; but it is believed that the construction and arrangement shown will be found to be the bestin practice. F is a iiexible semi-transparent signal curtain or shade. It is arranged bchindthatis, insideof face-plate D, but in front of the light, and is wound or rolled upon a roller or spindle, F. This spindle is actuated by a coiled spring, G, (see Fig. 3,) applied to' one end of the roller in such manner as to roll up the curtain when left free to act upon it.'` H is a cord, the forked ends. of which pass over pulleys h h, and are attached to the upper and lower corners of the shade, while the other end may be carried back linto the cab or engne-housewithin convcnient reach of the engineer. The position and arrangement of this cord in the lantern are fully shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines in Fig. l; and it will be readily seen that by pulling upon the cord the curtain can be drawn across the open face of the headlight, so as to show a colored or awhite light, at the will oi the operator; the arrangement of parts being such that as the curtain is drawn before the light the tension of spring Gr is increased, so that when the cord is released the curtain is automatically wound up.

Very many modiiications of the devices which I have shown and described may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be conned to this precise construction. Nor do I wish to be confined to their use in connection with a head-light, as they may, either in whole 0r in part, be used to advantage upon the Various signal-lamps employed by railroad employs.

Vhen it is desirable to exhibit different colors at different times from the same lamp, a series of rollers with curtains of various colors may be-employed, these rollers being arranged upon the same side of the lamp, or upon opposite sides, as convenience may dictate.

It will be seen from the above description that the bar E, although made removable for the purpose of chan gin gthenumbers or for other purpose, yet, so far as its use as a signal is concerned, and with reference to the curtain, it is fixed, said curtain being removable at the will of the engineer, and only used when occasion requires; whereas the numbers are always in position and always in sight, either with or without the curtain.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with a signal-lamp, a stationary signal to indicate the number or name of the train and a removable cautionary sig nal, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of November, A. D. 1871.

Witnesses: ANDREW DICK.

J As. SANGMUIR, JOHN HALL. 

